A67922:977
Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol.…Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol.…
Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol. 1] with an universal history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitive age to these latter times of ours, with the bloody times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions against the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperors, as now lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realm of England and Scotland. Newly revised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time again published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the help of Christ our Lord) John Fox, which desireth thee good reader to help him with thy prayer.Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 1] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.
London: printed by John Daye, 1583London: printed by Iohn Daye, 1583
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And yet for all that the tormentors cea•ed not, but waxed more fierce and mad against them, labouring to overcome the patience of the Saints. Notwithstanding all this they could not get out of Sanctus mouth any other thing but the confession which at the beginning he declared. And thus these holy men, after they had long continued alive in this their most horrible conflict, at the length were slain, being made all that whole day a spectacle unto the world in place and in stead of the games and sights, which were wont to be exhibited to the people. And thus much concerning Maturus and Sanctus. Now concerning Blandina, who being fastened upon a stake, was cast to the ravening beasts to be devoured, which thing was not done without the determinate will of God:1 to this end that while she seemed to hang upon a cross (as it were) by the ferventness of her prayer, she much comforted the rest of the saints, as beholding unto her christ, with their bodily eyes, which in that agony suffered for them all, and that all which believe in him, and suffer for the glory of Christ, might be assured to live with him for ever. And when they saw that no beast would come near her thus hanging, they toke her down from the tree, and cast her again into prison till an other time, that she having the victory of many battles, might triumph over that angry Serpent the devil, & that she being a weak and fely woman, and not regarded, armed with Christ the invincible conqueror, might encourage her brethren, and by the enduring of this battle might win a crown of incorruptible glory. Now to Attalus, who being also required and called for of the people to punishment, already prepared (for his conscience sake) cometh forth to the •ight. For he being worthily exercised in the Christian profession, was always a witness and a maintainer of our doctrine. Therefore when the press of people was about the scaffold, and the table ⟨p. 37⟩carried before him, wherein was written in the Roman tongue.2 This is Attalus the Christian. Then the people were in a marvellous rage against him, but the governor understanding that he was a Roman, commanded him again to prison, with the rest of his prison fellows: whereof he wrote to the Emperor, and waited for answer what his pleasure herein was.